What video card do you recommend in my case?

[Lincoln Burrows]

I currently own this card:
http://i.imgur.com/ze6w8.png

Using: Q9450, 2 GB/RAM, Windows 7 (32). This card uses a PCI-Express slot.

As you can see, the 8800 GTS 512 MB EVGA (with HDCP support) is almost 5 years old.

And it doesn't support VC-1 using DXVA (there's a workaround here (http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?t=160290), and it works fine, but I was thinking about buying a new video card anyway).

I need a video card that can replace this one with a good performance to the newest games and HD videos, this HDCP support (I guess they all have now), and an affordable price.

Will the Geforce GT 520 be a good choice?

What do you recommend?

[Blue_MiSfit]

nVidia side? The GT 520 is a poor performer. I'd suggest maybe a GTX 550ti.

[Atak_Snajpera]

Radeon 6850
btw. i have r4850 and bf3 runs at solid 30 fps (1440x810 high details)

[Simplately]

I too, appreciate the recommendation. I've been wondering about getting a graphics card that can handle high definition. I currently have a nVidia GeForce 8500GT and then recently looked over the requirements for a LG optical drive Blue Ray reader, stating it needed a graphics card of a later version than I have, for high definition. At this stage, I am open to both ATI and nVidia as I am a Linux OS user much of the time.

[golagoda]

I too, appreciate the recommendation. I've been wondering about getting a graphics card that can handle high definition. I currently have a nVidia GeForce 8500GT and then recently looked over the requirements for a LG optical drive Blue Ray reader, stating it needed a graphics card of a later version than I have, for high definition. At this stage, I am open to both ATI and nVidia as I am a Linux OS user much of the time.

I heavily suggest Nvidia since you're saying you use Linux, the official Nvidia drivers for linux work extremely well which unfortunately can hardly be said about AMD's drivers.

There's also the unofficial open source Nouveau nvidia drivers which also work decently.

[Simplately]

Thanks, golagoda. Yes, I'm using Nouveau as I type.

[LoRd_MuldeR]

If Linux is a priority, VDPAU (Video Decode and Presentation API for Unix) is another "pro" for NVidia.

At this time, only NVidia and S3 Graphics offer support for the VDPAU API, while Intel and ATI do not (though Intel may support it in the future).

BTW: There also in an OpenSource Linux driver available for ATI cards ("radeon"), which seems to get better maintenance than the ATI's proprietary ClosedSource driver. So if you decide to go with ATI, you will probably want to go with a model that is already supported by the OpenSource driver...

[Asmodian]

I too suggest the Nvidia 550ti or if you want a single slot solution and don't mind paying the same price for less of a card the GT545.

The 520 is actually just a bit too slow even for video.

[hello_hello]

I too, appreciate the recommendation. I've been wondering about getting a graphics card that can handle high definition. I currently have a nVidia GeForce 8500GT and then recently looked over the requirements for a LG optical drive Blue Ray reader, stating it needed a graphics card of a later version than I have, for high definition. At this stage, I am open to both ATI and nVidia as I am a Linux OS user much of the time.

What specs for a video card were given for use with the Bluray reader?
I honestly don't understand video card specs all that well, but I have a 8600GT in this PC running both a computer monitor and a TV (1920x1080) without any issues (I've briefly tested it up to 60fps connected to the TV). I'm pretty sure both the 8500 and 8600 support resolutions of up to 2560x1600. If the video card's working okay with the monitor it's currently connected to and you're not planning on changing the monitor, I'd be very tempted to try the player with your current video card then upgrade it if you have problems.

Seems like the 8500 supports hardware decoding as the 8600 does. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GeForce_8_Series#GeForce_8500_and_8600_Series

[Simplately]

Thanks lord mulder, asmoldian and hello_hello for the additioal information. It's good to know what others experiences are on these graphics cards. I bought the current one new, but this time I plan on getting a used one.

hello_hello, right you are! I found the information and I did get it wrong. It is a LG GGC-H20L dvd burner blu ray reader at geeks dot com e-store. The recommended video cards go from nVidia GeForce 7800 GTX 512 to GeForce 8800 GTX or higher. I got it wrong. Thanks for the correction.

[chapas]

nVidia has CUDA aside from DXVA, so you have more options.

nVidia Drivers in Linux tend to be released faster and have more features too.

[mindbomb]

gtx 560 ti

thats what i think would be good.

you already have 128 cores in your 8800gts, I don't think upping that to 192 with a 550 ti is a potent enough upgrade. Though I admit that is a big oversimplification, the point is, you can get a much bigger improvement with the 560 ti.

[Asmodian]

The 550 ti is already overkill just for video, no reason to go to the 560 ti. If you want to game that is a different story.

A lot has changed between the 8800gts and the 550ti.

The GT520 only has 48 cores!

Edit: I just noticed the OP wanted to game too, in that case I agree the 560ti is a much better card for not too much more money, however you can always spend a bit extra for more performance.